Family Rebuilds After 2006 Tornado Damage

Updated:
Wednesday, April 25, 2007 6:06 AM EDT

People in Delaware County know how dangerous Oklahoma weather can be. It's been a little more than a year since a tornado swept across the area, damaging or destroying dozens of homes. News On 6 anchor Craig Day went to the Twin Oaks and talked with a family caught in that tornado. He reports they say they owe their lives to an early warning and an old cellar.

William and Annie Husong have a lot to be thankful for. They have a beautiful new home, but more importantly, they have their lives.

"Everybody just needs to watch the TV and don't take the storms for granted because they can sure do some damage," said William Husong.

The Husong's know that first hand. In March of last year, a tornado ripped apart their home.

"My daughter had called at five after 9 and wanted to know if the kids could spend the night, and I told her to bring them up, and at 20 after 9, the house was gone," said Annie Husong.

Just before the tornado hit, the family rushed to their storm cellar. In a matter of seconds, the twister was bearing down on them, ripping off the cellar door with the family huddled inside.

"It was sucking stuff down there with us, grass, sticks, what have you," said William Husong.

"It seemed like forever, but my husband said it was probably a minute, minute and a half," said Annie Husong.

The tornado left a path of destruction across Delaware County.

One of the most difficult parts about being in a tornado is that you lose so many personal belongs, including things with a great deal of sentimental value. Every so often, the family will find things scattered out in their pasture, and just a couple of weeks ago, the family found an outfit ripped away from their home by the tornado, her son wore it as a child 34 years ago.

Those memories mean the most to the Husong's. The tornado, they'd just as soon forget. Instead, they'll be prepared if another tornado sweeps through, and they say others should be too.